Power Liftgate Diagnosis and Repair Information

Power Lift Gate only opens as a manual gate.

1. I/P switch turned off
2. Low Battery voltage
3. Low outside air temperature (-30[ordm ]C (-22[ordm ]F))
4. Very high outside temperature increases temperature inside vehicle above (80[ordm ]C (176[ordm ]F))

1. Turn the IP switch on.
2. Charge the battery.
3. The power liftgate will become inoperative at very cold temperatures, such as those below -29°C (-20°F), and will need to be operated manually. The mechanism should return to normal operation after the temperature range reaches permissible level.
4. The power liftgate will become inoperative at very high temperatures, such as those above 80°C (176°F), and will need to be operated manually. The mechanism should return to normal operation after the temperature range reaches permissible level.

Power Lift Gate Opens unintentionally in park.

1. Outside Liftgate release switch malfunction.
2. Liftgate close switch malfunction.
3. Sill plate activating liftgate close switch.

1. Inspect the L/Gate touch pad function. Also check for DTC B2494 failure code 02.
2. Inspect the shut face function. Also check for DTC B2494 failure code 02. The touch pad and the shut face run in parallel, so check each switch separately. Replace the close switch if water is present in the switch and make sure the grommet on the wiper arm shaft to the outer panel is seated properly. If the grommet is loose, apply a small amount of weatherstrip adhesive in the grommet's U channel and reinstall the grommet (Buick Only).
3. Inspect the sill plate for proper installation/clearance to the touch pad switch and possible bent retainers.

Power Lift gate reverses while closing at the start (top) of travel.

1. Strut stanchion (strut dries out while sitting open for long periods)
2. Key Fob sending a second hit signal (Some key fobs will send a second hit signal upon release of the button, others if you roll your thumb while holding down the button or a combination of the two together). Refer to the Cause and Correction for Condition #8.
3. Low battery voltage

1. Close the gate manually after the gate has remained open for extended periods.
2. Inspect the Key Fob operation.
3. Charge the battery.

Power Lift gate reverses while closing mid travel.

1. Strut stanchion (strut dries out while sitting open for long periods)
2. Key Fob sending a double hit signal (Some Key Fobs will send a second hit signal upon release of the button when held longer than 1 second, others will send a second signal if you roll your thumb while holding down the button or a combination of the two together)
3. Someone getting into the vehicle while the gate is closing (If you jump into the vehicle while the L/Gate is closing, you can cause a reversal in mid travel).

1. Close the gate manually after the gate has remained open for extended periods. One time should be sufficient.
2. Inspect the Key Fob operation.
3. Do not jounce the vehicle while the PLG is in motion. Sit lightly into vehicle while PLG is in operation.

Power Lift gate reverses while closing when almost closed.

1. An obstruction behind the 3rd row seat.
2. The sill plate is not seated correctly (Not seated fully / bent attachments).



3. The side reveal molding pins are not fully seated, causing the trim to not fully seat (Buick).
4. The rubber bumpers on the liftgate in the lower corners may not be fully seated (GMC / Saturn).
5. The striker may be out of alignment.
6. The striker was moved forward or backward.



7. The liftgate may not be flush to the fascia.



8. The primary seal may not be fully seated.

1. Remove the obstruction.
2. Inspect the sill plate for installation and possible bent retainers.
3. Push in the side reveal molding retainers.
4. Turn the bumpers in fully.
5. Align the striker. Perform the Liftgate Calibration Procedure.
6. Perform the liftgate calibration procedure.
7. Move the striker rearward to flush out gate and relearn. Marking the current location of the liftgate striker, loosen the striker bolts and strike the striker rearward with a mallet to adjust the liftgate striker outboard (to the rear of the vehicle). Only move the striker in 1 mm increments, performing the Liftgate Calibration Procedure after each adjustment.
8. Glue the primary seal down.

Power Lift Gate closes immediately after fully opening. Usually has a loud clunking noise at top of gate travel just before power closing.

A customer and/or technician may comment that when using the Power Liftgate, it will open fully, drop a few inches, then power close.

Weak strut(s) (PLG goes into a customer safe mode and power closes gate slowly).

Turn off the Power Liftgate using the Disable Switch in the bottom of the center stack. Manually open the liftgate to the full open position using the exterior liftgate pull handle. Verify that the liftgate will remain at or near the full open position for several minutes. If the liftgate will not remain open, replace the liftgate strut(s) that are weak. Though both struts should be inspected for weakness, it is often only the LH strut that requires replacement. It is important to note that the LH and RH Assist Struts have two different part numbers and each should be installed in its proper location.

Power Lift Gate reverses while opening.

1. Obstacle observed or someone sending a second signal via Key Fob, Outside touch pad, I/P button or PLG Close button.
2. Key Fob sending a double hit signal (Some Key Fobs will send a second hit signal upon release of the button when held longer than 1 second, others will send a second signal if you roll your thumb while holding down the button or a combination of the two together).
3. Touch pad sending a second signal.

1. Remove the obstacle.
2. Inspect the Key Fob operation.
3. Inspect the touch pad function.

Some customers may comment that the power liftgate intermittently reverses direction after activation. For example - They may state that when commanded, the rear liftgate opens and after motion occurs in one direction, the liftgate may reverse direction and close.

The cause of this condition may be specific to the remote keyless entry (RKE) transmitter's button configuration and the press and hold feature. The customer has to press and hold the power liftgate button (approximately 1 second) until the liftgate activation occurs. This extended button press may cause the remote control door lock receiver (RCDLR) to interpret this as 2 button presses when only 1 is needed.

A new RKE transmitter has been released to correct this condition. Verify that the vehicle build date is before April 1, 2008 before replacing the key fob . Replace and reprogram both RKE transmitters. Refer to Service Bulletin 07-08-52-002.

1. The power Lift Gate outside handle doesn’t work all the time.
2. The power Lift Gate outside handle requires extra force (have to squeeze hard) to operate.

Outside L/Gate touch pad malfunction.

Inspect the L/Gate touch pad function.